Day: 8. August 2009

“If this ever gets off the ground, he said, It’ll probably be really dangerous and maybe I will get the respect I deserve.” Melanie repeated feeling a stone drop deep in her chest. “That’s what he said?” Rose asked in surprise.

“Yes. He is going to kill himself! He’s crazy!” Melanie cried. They were walking on the wilderness trail behind their school. The sun chinked down the branches and dappled the ground in afternoon sun. “What is he building?” Rose asked after a while. “I don’t know.” Melanie admitted. Horror griped her like a human hand. Rose thought out loud-”He’s only eleven after all, whatever he is building must not be very safe.” They walked in silence for a long moment.

Melanie and Rose sat down on a rock. Rose absently threw a rock into the pond. “Did Chuck say anything…. Else?” Rose mumbled so low, she wondered if Melanie heard her. “No. Just that. Then he left wanting to work on his machine.” Melanie replied her voice growing higher. “And I don’t know what respect he is talking about! We all respect him!”

“Some don’t.” Rose murmured. Melanie sighed. “Well, if he wants this respect I’m sure there is something else he can do!” Melanie thumped her head trying to remember if he had said anything else.

“Lets head back.” Rose said breaking the silence. Melanie hadn’t realized how long they had been there. Their shadows were noticeably longer.

Melanie and Rose trudged through the trail. Melanie tried to think of things to distract her, but her mind kept wandering stubbornly to Chucks machine.

As they emerged from the thick forest trail, they saw it.

It was huge. It was made like an airplane, with propellers and wings, but it wasn’t a plane.

“Chuck!” Melanie wailed over the beating propellers. “Chuck don’t do this! Please don’t do this!” Chuck poked his head out from under the plane. The orange-gold sky made his red hair shinier than ever. He was wearing goggles and his hat was flapping around his head wildly. “Hi Melanie! Rose!” He shouted. “Nice isn’t it?” He said beaming, as he moved around to the side of the plane. Melanie and Rose froze in fear as he hauled himself into the not-so-plane-like plane.

“Chuck no!” Melanie and Rose howled at the same time. But it was too late. The plane coughed and sputtered. Then it loomed over with a moan and started to move forward. Slow at first, but steadily faster and faster until it hit the ramp with a shudder and took off.

Melanie and rose stood planted in the ground. They watched Chuck ride in his plane smoking and twirling, until it was a black dot in a gold sky. Melanie sank to her knees and cradled her face in her hands. “Times Square.” She whispered, her voice cracking. Rose squatted down next to her.

“I should have remembered.” Melanie said a little louder. He is flying to Times Square.” Rose patted her back comfortingly. “Its O.k. Chuck is a bright kid. He will be alright. He never crashed did he?” As if in response the wooden ramp broke in half.

Arctic.

Always wandering the never ending terrain of the north.

Hunger clawing, breaking, roaring, a hunt begins taunting.

A seal rises, hope flickers, and the hunt begins again.

Flying through the water silently.

Swimming, always swimming,cutting through like a knife.

Rise to the surface, water glittering like diamonds.

Sing the low song of the whale spirit.

The gulls hover in the sky.

The fish hide from their hunter.

A gull will swoop, diving down,

Very precise, grabs the fish, and the hunt rolls on.

Every gull fears this mammal,

Never stopping always running.

Underneath its fur of white, a fox dwells, running, leaping.

Even at the steepest jump, it never loses its breath.

We come to our last animal- the walrus.

Earnest with determination,

Swimming with fierce concentration,

The spirit of the polar bear, whale, gull and fish, Arctic fox and walrus, all breathe in the icy land of the north.